The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-04
CHAPTER XVIII


Before the end Of the week tho manager
found himself in relations with "the family
once more. A telegram from Milan an.
nounced that Mr Francis Westwick would
arrive in Venice on the next day, and would
be obliged II Number Fourteen on the fins,
/ Hoor could be reserved for him in the event
! II its being vacant at the time.
The manager paused to consider before he
issued ms directions
! The REMEMBERED room had been last let to a
/ French gentlemau It would be occupied on
/ the day OF Mr. Francis Westwicks arrival,
but it would be empty again on the day
after Would 10 be well 20 reserve the room
for the special occupation Of Mr. Francl
and when be bad passed the night unsuspic
ously and comfortably in "No l3A,7 20 ask
aim IN the presence Il witnesses how he liked
bis bed chamberl In this case, If the reputa-
ion Of the room happened 10 be called in
question again, the answer would vuiicate
/ 10 on the evidence OF member Of the very
family which had first given Number Four
.een a bad name After a little reflection
tho manager decided on trying the TX eri-
ment, and directed that "l3A" should be re-
erved accordingly.
On the next day Francis Westwick arrived
n excellent spirits.
lie bad signed agreements with the most
popular dancer in Italy; be had transferred
he charge OF Mrs. Norbury 90 bis brother
Henry, who had joined him IN Milan, ana he
vas nov at full liberty 10 amuse himself by
esting in every possible way the extruordin-
ny influence exercised over his relatives by
Inc new hotel When his brother aud sister
irst told him what their experience had been,
be instantly declared that he would go 70
Venice in the interest OF bis theatre The
circumstances related 10 him contained valu-
able hints FOR a ghost drama. The title oc-
,urred 20 him Ia the railway: The Haunted
HOTEL Post that m red lettera SIX feet high,
IN a black ground all over London, aud trust
he excltable public 20 crowd into tie tAeatrel
Received with the politest attention by the
manager, Francis met with disappointment
III entering the hotel "Some mistake. sir.
10 such room on the first floor as Number
Fourteen. TIE room bearing that number il
IN the second floor, and las been occupied by
ne from the day when the hotel opened
Perhaps YOU meant so. l3A, on the first fioorf
Il Will be at your service to-mOrrow-a
charming room Ia the meantime, We viii
10 tine best We can for YOU tonight"
A man who Is the successful manager OF a
lheatre IS probably the last man in the civil
zed universe who i, capable Of being inn.
pressed with favorable opinions Of IBIS fellow
Teatures Francis privately set the mana.
ger down as a humLus, and the story about
Ae numbering OF Tie room as "a Ie
On the day of hLs arrival be- dned by him
self in the restaurant, before the hour OF the
table dhote. for the express purpose OF
questioning the waiter without being over
beard by anybody. The answer lei him 10
The conclusion that "l3AT occupied the situa
hon in toe hotel which had been described by
bis brother as the situation Of IL be asked
next for the visitors list, and found that the
French gentleman who then occupied "l3A7
vas the proprietor Of theatre ia PARIS, per-
'onally well known 10 him. Was The gentle
nan then in the hotell lie had souc out. hut
sould certainly return Tor tine table d'Aote.
When tue public dinner was over. Francis
uttered the room, and was welcomed by his
Parisian colleague literally with open arms
Come ANA have a cigar IA my ROOM sad
he friendly Fpucumln. II want 10 hear
whether sou have really engaged that woman
Al Milan or not" Ia this eu>y way Francis
found BIS opportunity Of comparing tie into
rior Of the room with the description whict
be had heard Of it at Milan.
Arriving at the door, the Frenchman be
q ought himself OF his travelling companion
Ny scene painter Is here with me- be said
ION the lookout for materials An excellent
fellow, who VIII take IL as a kindness il We
ask him 10 join us III tell the porter Z
send him up when he comes in" He handed
tue key Of his room 70 Francis. IL viii b
back in a minute It's az tue end Of the cor
rdor-l3A."
Francis entered the room alone There
were the decorations on the walls and the
ceiling. exactly AS they had been described &c
him He bad just time % perceive this at
glance, beiurc his attention was diverted &C
himself ani his own sensations by a grotes
quey di.4 cr,eable occurrence which took him
completely by surprise.
lie t-7me conscious Of a mysteriously
offensive oior in the room, entirely new IN
bis experience Of revolving smells II was
composed hf such Il thing could bei Of two
mugling exhaations, which were separately
disc1Nerube eEhGlatIOns. nevertheless. This
strange blending 81 odor- consisted of some
thing family and unpieasantly aromatic,
mixed WITH another underlying SMELL 50 I'm.
u,tr aa.y seeeHag that he threw open the
window and pat h.s mead ou- into the fresh
air. unable TO endure the horribly infected
atmosphere for moment longer
The French proprietor joined his English
friend with bis cigar already lit he started
back in dismay at "a sight terrible 20 BIS
countrymen ia general-ihe sight OF an open
window. ~You English people are perfectly
s--ad O. Sas SGslss., u gre<h ARR he eK-